Van and Anne moved past the checkout and approached a grand pool surrounded by grass and lively people. Various mages were creating waterslides for others, and people were openly using magic to create a spectacle for onlookers.

    "There''s no ban on magic usage or something?" Van asked as they walked in.

    "There used to be, but with the constant dragon attacks, the royal guards started enforcing it less due to the extra workload. Eventually, it was deemed unnecessary. It''s like forbidding a cook from using his knife, or so my late father used to say," Anne replied.

    "Ohh," Van hummed in curiosity as he looked around.

    ''This... it almost feels like I''m back in my own world. Well, minus the instant ice water slides they create on the spot,'' Van reflected, taking in the scene.

    "Come on!" Anne urged again, as she pulled Van''s head towards the pool''s direction.

    "Ah, you go ahead," Van said, halting.

    "What?"

    "You probably have friends here you want to see, right? I''ll find a spot to relax," Van reasoned.

    ''Amoria told me to mingle with these kids, but that''s not really my scene. I''ll just keep an eye on her until she''s ready to leave,'' he thought.

    "Eh, not really," Anne replied, looking away.

    "Not really? Are you being bullied perhaps?" Van''s voice grew stern.

    "No! If anyone dared touch me, I''d tear them apart! Who do you think I am!?" Her voice boomed with defiance.

    "Alright, so what''s the issue?"

    "Just... Look, just hang out with me, okay? Or maybe you don''t want to...?" Anne asked, her gaze averted, a hint of shame in her voice.

    It was then he heard Anne''s name mentioned in the crowd. Curious, he utilized the entirety of his 587 points in perception, eavesdropping on chatter around them.

    ''What''s all this about...?'' Van pondered.

    Van overheard a gaggle of girls whispering amongst themselves with derision.

    Then, he caught the chatter of a group of guys around the same age group.

    ''... So it''s this kind of harassment,'' Van realized, watching the teens with a mix of anger and resignation, then turned his attention back to Anne, who clicked her tongue impatiently, waiting for his reaction.

    "Look, I don''t have time for this crap! If you don''t want to hang out just say it straight!" Anne exclaimed, turning to walk away in frustration and anger.

    That''s when Van moved behind her and swiftly lifted her onto his shoulder, her legs dangling in front of him, secure in his arm.

    "V-VAN!?!" Anne gasped, her voice tinged with embarrassment as onlookers turned their heads.

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    "Whoa, that guy seriously has a death wish..." some murmured.

    "Lifting Anne like that, he''s just asking to be hit!" a few of the guys commented, while the gossiping girls fell silent.

    Without another word, Van strode toward the pool area with Anne still hoisted on his shoulder.

    "W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!? P-PEOPLE ARE WATCHING!! LET ME DOWN!!!" Anne protested, her voice tinged with both alarm and embarrassment as she squirmed in his grasp.

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    "What do you mean, what am I doing? Didn''t we come here to hang out?" Van replied flatly to Anne as he strode confidently into the pool area, bypassing the mocking group.

    ''T-they''re looking...!!'' Anne''s thoughts raced with alarm as they neared the water''s edge.

    Just then, Van smoothly shifted her into a princess carry.

    "W-WAIT...!! I''M STILL WEARING MY SHIRT...!!" Anne exclaimed, her face flushing with embarrassment as she covered it with her palms.

    "Look at me, Anne," Van instructed firmly, prompting her to lower her hands and meet his gaze.

    With a mischievous smile, Van looked into her eyes just before he leaped into the pool with her in his arms.

    "No wai—blubebrblrubrbru," Anne sputtered as they plunged underwater.

    "Is he out of his mind...!?"

    "That guy must be crazy..." The onlookers murmured among themselves as Van and Anne surfaced.

    "WHAT WAS THAT FOR!!?" Anne yelled, pushing him against the pool wall, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

    Van responded by playfully splashing water in her face with a gentle flick of his hand.

    In a flash of anger, Anne raised her fist and swung at Van, who caught it effortlessly with his palm. Sёarch* The N??elFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Didn''t peg you as the sore loser type," Van teased.

    "Coming here with you was a damn mistake!!" She erupted with a frown, "You''re as childish and as immature as the rest of them!" Anne snapped, dousing Van with a forceful splash that sent water flying in the form of a small wave, before turning to swim away furiously.

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    ''And I''m sure... That this girl needs someone to treat her as an equal more than anything,'' Van thought as he splashed Anne again, his splash noticeably stronger than hers.

    "I''ve faced tougher water droplets than that splash. Come on, give it your all... Or is that all you''ve got?" Van taunted, watching Anne reel slightly from the force of his splash.

    ''... She comes alive when challenged,'' Van reflected, remembering her fiery determination back at the storage house.

    "TSK..." Anne clicked her tongue, clenching her fists under the water.

    "She''s going to kill him!" some onlookers whispered.

    "YOU BASTARD...!!! YOU ASKED FOR IT!!!" Anne shouted, channeling magic into her muscles, hurling water at Van with all her might, creating a wave that momentarily shadowed him.

    "Hey, Anne just used muscle enhancement!"

    "It''s the weakest form of magic... But getting hit by it still hurts!"

    "Move out of the way, dumbass!" someone yelled at Van.

    Van watched the towering splash head towards him. ''Now, that''s what I''m talking about...!'' he thought, bracing for the impact.

    ''I should get out before this draws more attention,'' Anne thought as she turned her back to him, ready to leave the pool, but then noticed a shadow looming over her as she did.

    "Holy Goddess..."

    "That''s an actual wave!" the onlookers exclaimed.

    "N-no way..." she muttered, stunned by his return volley.

    "YOU WON''T BEAT ME, BASTARD!!!" she screamed, throwing herself fully into the battle, oblivious to the crowd as they traded splashes vigorously.

    Eventually, Anne was splashed out of the pool.

    "... I didn''t hear about anyone except Cerille that can stand up to Anne in terms of physical strength."

    "Who is this guy?!"

    "He appears like some thug from the streets, to be honest..."

    They spoke amongst themselves as Anne found herself lying on the pool''s edge, soaked, as she looked upwards.

    ''What... What was that...?'' Anne thought in wonder as she sat up, looking at Van, who was still standing in the pool, appearing to sneer mockingly.

    ''That bastard... Laughing at me like that...!! BRING IT ON!!'' She raged as she sprang up, quickly leaping back in, her face lit with excitement, ready to strike back.

    As the hour passed, her energy began to wane.

    "I''m not done... Bastard... Hahaha..." she chuckled, her splashes growing weaker as adrenaline surged through her veins, one last time before her strength faded.

    Just as she began to sink, Van swiftly caught her, lifting her into a princess carry.

    "...Wanna go take a break?" Van suggested gently, smiling at his exhausted niece.

    She met Van''s gaze, letting her body relax with a deep sigh.

    "Sure... Hahaha..." Anne chuckled, resting her head on his arm as he carried her out of the water.

    ''Man... That was a blast,'' she thought, feeling a sense of contentment as Van scanned the area for a spot where they could sit and recuperate.

    "You know... She actually looks pretty cute all curled up like that..."

    "Is that really Anne...?"

    "That lucky bastard... I wish I had thought of that!" the guys murmured among themselves, while the girls clenched their teeth, their envy barely concealed.

    ''Those guys.... As much as I''m happy this girl''s image is improving... I feel bad for the poor company she has to deal with daily. No wonder she was so defensive earlier.'' Van thought with a sigh.

    ''Well, don''t worry,''

    ---------------

    Van thought and thought, yet only one answer shone through his mind. "Her... Intention?"

    Varlog clasped his palms together in satisfaction.

    "Indeed!! It is the intention behind your action, be it manipulative or not, that makes you honest or dishonest. The will to protect them. Both physically... and emotionally."

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